Sunday Reflections

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

April 19, 2020

(Also Divine Mercy Sunday)

 Our present world is battered and badly bruised as it fights the enemy of the COVID-19 pandemic.  It is desperately in need of prayers and the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity (Love).  Today we focus on Hope as God’s gift to us for difficult times.  And in the second part of this reflection we consider how to make it real for our African brothers and sisters.

Such must have been the reaction to the first disciples who went to the tomb of the crucified Jesus – the presence of the soldiers sent to guard it, talking about how to move back the stone.  Much to their surprise they found the stone already moved aside, and a heavenly messenger who proclaimed that the Jesus, whom they sought, had risen.  They had not understood the words of Jesus in which he talked about “rising from the dead”.  Now this piece of the puzzle helped them to put the whole picture together of his life, suffering, death and resurrection.  God had done the

The pandemic that we are experiencing has changed our lives and changed our world. Countless people around the world and in our own communities are suffering either from the corona virus itself, or from the consequences of the virus. These consequences give rise to much suffering as people grieve the loss of loved ones, and isolation from supports that we take for granted, such as friends and family, work and recreation, and liturgy and parish functions. Usual routines have been put on hold, anxiety is on the rise, and people fear the face of illness and death as never before.

Today is also the National Collection For Development and Peace (please give generously to this worthy cause when you can do so).

There is an old saying that “there is no one as blind as he who will not see”.  Jesus gave sight to the blind man in today’s gospel, and he tried to give new sight to all, including the Pharisees.  But some refused to open their eyes and see.  They preferred to keep their eyes closed and to miss out on the opportunities for life and grace that he was giving them.  This is our choice, as the power of God is great, but is limited by our lack of will to accept His grace.  Our sinfulness reflects that blindness to the light of Christ, choosing to remain in the dark and

Sunday’s second reading is Romans 5:1-2, 5-8.  Verse 5 is: “Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”  This passage invites us to realize that the only one worthy of our hope is Christ Jesus.  The only one in which we ought to hope is Jesus.  Strangers will disappoint us.  Family and friends will disappoint us.  Institutions, governments and churches will disappoint us.  All hope that lacks a foundation in Jesus Christ is misplaced.

There certainly is a link between the liturgical season of Lent and prayer in that Lent calls us to increase our prayer and to pray more “seriously.” So it really makes good sense to pray more during Lent.  Our liturgical texts are very rich and this richness is such that they proclaim many themes and memes.  In these reflections we will consider the liturgical texts’ emphasis on prayer – and more of it – as an essential part of our Lenten journey.

Jesus had fasted for forty days, and what was the first thing that the evil one tempted him with – bread!  The evil one knows us, and he knows our weaknesses, and how to tempt us to sin.  He went on to tempt the Lord to test His Father’s love and protection, and then to worship him.  But Jesus, as God-made-man, resisted that temptation.  We can be sure that that same evil one knows us, and will tempt us by various ways that lead us away from a sincere love and obedience to God, to a divergent path that leads to pride, disobedience and selfishness.  However, God also

IMPORTANT INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Unfortunately, in our human condition, it is a temptation toward minimalism.  It may take the form of a student who wants to do as little work as possible, but to reap the rewards of serious study.  Or the adult, who also allows minimalism to enter into his workplace ethics, and (even worse) his interpersonal relationships.  The words of Jesus in the gospel may surprise us, because He calls us beyond a minimalism to see the full ramifications and consequences of our words and actions.  He calls us to the fullness of life, as this minimalism is holding us back, enslaving